Apparatus for lapping valves



Jan. 14, I930.

C.' A. DE WITT APPARATUS FOR "LAPPING VALVES Filed June 25, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1930. c wrr 1,743,658

APPARATUS FOR LAPPING VALVES Filed June 25. 1926 4 Sheets-Shegt 2 Jan. 14, 1930. c; A. DE WlTT I ,743,658

APPARATUS FOR LAPPING VALVES I Filed June 25, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 14; 1930. C.:A. DE wrr'r 1,743,658

APPARATUS FOR LAPPING VALVES Patented Jan. 14, 1930 rinses CLARENCE A. DE WITT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS APPARATUS FOR Application filed June 25,

In the manufacture and maintenance of air-brake valves and the like, great care must be taken in assembling and fitting the parts, to prevent leakage of air. It is often necessary to grind or lap the moving, parts for hours, (this work being done by hand) and caremust be taken so as not to apply too much pressure to the parts to prevent their being bent or distorted in any way.

This invention. relates, generally, to means for and the method of grinding away or polishing metal surfaces. but has particular relation to a pressure operated apparatus for and method or system of lapping, rubbing or grinding away parts of valves, while sald parts of the same are in their casing or housing.

The principal object of the invention 18, to

provide an apparatus and method of the above ber provided with named character, which shall be comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and highly efficient in opera tion, with its parts so made and arranged that it may be readily and operatively installed and so that, the valve to be operated upon or lapped, can be quickly and easily attached thereto and removed therefrom without displacing any of its interior parts during the Another object is, to provide means in a device of the class described, for lapping, rubbing, grinding away or polishing metal surfaces, and having the head or mounting memport holes or openings to register with only some of the openings in the valve and closing the other openings, and with the constant supply of air, and the method of I applying the same, causing the interior parts of the valve to operate as in the natural function of it duty while in service. Another object is, to provide means in a device of the class described, for lapping, rubbing, grinding away or polishing metal surfaces within a valve after the same has been assembled. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the acc mpanying drawings in Which lapping, rubbing,

LAPPING VALVES 1928. Serial No. 118,435.

Figure 1, is a face view of the device mounted on a table.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, show ing a distributing valve secured thereto.

Fig. 3, is a section view taken on the line 3, 3,0f Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a sectional view of a triple valve mounted on the device.

Fig. 5, is a rear face view'of the mounting head for the distributing valve and Fig. 6, is a face view of the mounting head for the triple'valve. v

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The reference numeral 10, designates the constant air supply pipe having a lead 11, to a globe valve 12, which has the lead pipe 13, to a shut-off valve 14, and into a three-wayvalve 15, which has the lead 16, to the pressure regulating valve 17, the same being mounted to the mounting head 18, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The threeway-valve 15, has a lead 19, which has a three-way-valve 20. and the lead 21, to a reducing globe valve 22, and the lead 23, tapped into the mounting head 18. The three-wayvalve 20, has the lead 24;,which is also tapped into the mounting head 18.

It will be seen in this method of piping the device, as shown, the supply of air may be directed by the three-way-valve 15, into either of the leads 16, or 19, or may be allowed to flow or communicate with both, and the valve 20 may be operated in the same manner to allow the air to flow in either of the leads 21, or 24, or both, when required, as will be more clearly pointed out with the operation of the attached valve.

, The constant air supply pipe 10, also has the lead-25, to a manually operated valve 26, and the lead 27, to a storage air reservoir 28. From the reservoir 28 is a lead 29 to a shutoff valve 30, which is tapped into the mount ing head 18. Tapped into the lead 27, is a pressure gage 31, to indicate to the operator and permit him to maintain a constant pressure of air in the reservoir 28. The drip cook 32, located in the line with the pressure gage 31, is for draining any moisture which may accumulate in the line,

The mounting head 18, is provided with a boss 33, to receive the supporting bracket 34, which may be secured in any suitable way to a table or platform 35, in this manner supaorting the device at a sufiicient height from the table to allow the valves to be attached and repaired or tested while in position.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, and 3, which show a distributing valve attached. "-0 the mounting head 18, of the device. The construction of the distributing valve, which is well known to those versed in the art, is shown in section and only enough of the parts that operate directly with this device are hown. The said valve has two chambers A and B in which are mounted the application piston 36, and the equalizing piston 37 provided with piston rings 38, and 39,'and the extensions 40, and 41, which carry the movable parts of the valve. The extension 40,

on the application piston has secured therein,

and extending upwardly, the application valve pin 42, which carries the application valve 43, the lower portion of the extension :0, of the application piston carries the eX haust valve 44, the equalizing piston 37 carrying the graduating valve 45, and the equalizing valve 46. It is these above mentioned parts that are subject to great wear and it has been found necessary to replace and'reface these parts including the installation of new rings and the same'must be well faced or lapped to prevent the leakage of air while in service.

The lead 29, from the storage air reservoir 28, communicates with the port 47, to the left hand side of the equalizing piston 37. The direct air supply through the lead 13, lead 19 and pipe 24, communicates with the port L8, in the piston chamber B, on the right hand side of the equalizing piston 37. The lead 21 extending upwardly, communicates with the space 49, which leads into the chamber A, and to the right of the application piston 36. The exhaust release opening communicates with the release coclr 51, for the purpose of exhausting the air furnished behind the application piston 36, as will be more clearly explained in the operation of the device.

The equalizing valve in its construction is provided with a port 52, which communicates with an air passage 53, into the chamber A, to the left of the application piston 36. Located centrally below the exhaust valve 44,

and comn'iunicating with a port opening therein is an air exhaust opening 54, for the purpose of exhausting the pressure supplied through the space 49, to the right ofthe application piston 36,'and that which surrounds the extension 40. In Fig. 3, which shows a section of the distributing valve and its working parts, the air passage 53 communicates with the chamber A to the left of the application piston 36. The chamber A is provided 16, has increased to a point to force the plunger 57 to the right compressing the spring 58, and the air through the lead 16, back of the plunger will exhaust to atmosphere through the exhaust opening 59.

In the operation assuming the valve to be completely assembled and the parts ready to be worked in, which is in this case lapping, rubbing, grinding away or polishing the movable surfaces and their respective faces. The air supply through the constant air supply pipe 10, through the lead 11, is adjusted for proper feed by the globe valve 12, into the lead pipe 13, to the three-way-valve 15, this valve being opened to allow the air to flow into the lead pipe 16, into the pressure regulating valve 17, affording a constant pressure against the plunger 57, of the valve. The air will also flow through the lead 19, through the three-way-valve 20, and through the lead 24, into the port opening 48, in the chamber B and back of the equalizing piston 37. The air will also flow through the lead 21, which is regulated by the reducing globe valve 22, and through the lead 23,into the space 49, into the chamber A, and back of the application piston 36.

By this arrangement it will be seen that the constant pressure from the supply is to the right of each of the pistons 36, and 37 which will force the pistons to the left to their extreme positions as shown in Fig. 3, of the drawings and the lead 16, maintains a constant pressure on the pressure regulating valve 17.

The air supply through the lead pipe 10, and the lead 25, is regulated by the valve 26, through the lead 27, into the storage air reservoir 28, and through the lead pipe 29, through the port 47, to the left ofthe equalizing piston 37, so that when the air pressure in the reservoir 28, overcomes the pressure through the direct feed through the port 48, into the chamber B, the equal-' izing piston 37 will be moved to the right carrying with it the graduating valve 45, and the equalizing valve 46 compressing the tension spring located in the path of travel of the piston 37 at which time plunger 57 in the valve 17 lead 55, will assist the tension spring 58', in the pressure regulating valve .in keeping the plunger over the air escape port 59. As the pressure through the line 13, into the lead 16, ouilds up, that is to say, the pressure against the left hand side of the plunger 57 in the valve 17, becomes greater than the pressure of air and the tension of the spring on the opposite side of this plunger, the plunger will be moved to the right under this pressure and the air will escape. But while this pres sure is building up against the plunger 57, the equalizing piston 37, has been moved to the extreme rightand a port in the equalizing valve will register with a passage to the exhaust port 50, thereby exhausting the air back of the equalizing piston and through the air passage 53, will exhaust the air back of the application piston 36, and by so doing will re- :luce the pressure through the port opening 55, and the line 55*, which will reduce the pressure against the right hand side of the The pressure in the line 13, will then feed through the line 24, into the port opening '48, in the chamber B, and to the right of the piston 37 and will force it back to the extreme left and the air through the line 21, into the chamber A, to the right of the piston 36, will force the piston 36, to the extreme left. This action of the pistons 36, and 37, will be repeated and in this particular method and arrangement of piping and as clearly shown in Fig. 5, the mounting head 18, is provided with port openings to register with only a few of the port openings in the valve While the remaining openings in the valve are sealed against the mounting head and in this method and arrangement of parts it is possible to mount a valve which in this particular case is a distributing valve for air brakes and causing the same to be operated by this device to wear in the parts and test the same.

In some instances it is desirous to work in some of the parts on one of the valves say for instance the application valve 36, and with this construction of the apparatus and method of applying the air, the three way valve 20, may be turned so as to cut off the supply of air to the chamber A, and thereby allowing the air to flow through the threeway valve 20, through the lead 24, into the lower chamber B, and in this way operating the equalizing piston 37, as above stated and while this piston is operated the supply of air furnished through the supply pipe 10, the chamber A, may be opened and the parts adjusted or set without interfering with the operation of the equalizing piston.

If it is further necessary to work in the parts in the lower chamber B, the three-wayvalve 20, may be turned so as to cut off the supply of air through the lead 24, allowing the air to continue through the lead 21, into the chamber A, and in this manner the application piston 36, may be operated under the supply of air while the lower piston in chamber B, remains idle.

r fter the device has been run for some time a test may be made so as to insure the operator that the parts are well lapped. This is done by closing the shut-off valve 14, in the line 13, cutting off the air pressure supply in the lines 16, and 19, relieving the pressure against the plunger of the pressure regulator 17, and. cutting off the supply of the port 48, into the chamber B, and the supply through the lead 21, into the chamber A, and in this way locking the air which has been supplied through the lead 13, into the ohambers A, and B, and closing the exhaust release opening ,50, and locking the air within the valve. Should the air escape through the release cook 51, the operator is warned that the valve is not thoroughly lapped and the device is run and a further test is made and when there is no leakage or air through the release cook 51, the device is then lapped and ready for installation in the air brake system. p 7

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, which shows a vertical section of a triple valve mounted on the mounting head 18 this valve comprises a piston 60, mounted in the chamber C, having an extension 61, so arranged as to carr a valve portion 62. To operate this valve after the worn parts have.

been replaced the supply from the storage air reservoir 28, is fed through the line 29 to the left hand side of the piston 60, forcing the piston to the extreme right hand side and allowing the air to pass through the passage 63, into the lead pipe 55*, and into the pressure regulating valve 17. The constant air supply through the lead pipe 13*, willfeed in the left hand side of the plunger 57 in the pressure regulating valve 17, and through the lead 13 to the brake pipe opening 64, of the triple valve through the air passage 65, into thechamber C, to theright hand side of the piston 60.

The constant pressure supply through 13"13", and the air passage 65, against the piston 60, moves said piston to the extreme left, opening the exhaust "port 66, through the slide valve 62, and the pressure against the plunger 57 in the valve '17, will be exhausted directly through the lead 55, the

slide valve 62, and through exhaust port 66.

This allows the plunger 57, in the pressure regulating valve 17 to move to the right,

opening the relief port 59, allowing the ail to escape from the lead 13, and 13 64, and 65, reducing the pressure in chamber C, to the right of piston 60, allowing the piston 60, to move to the right thus allowing the air from 29*, to pass through the valve 62, to the right hand side of the plunger, 57 in the valve 17, closing the port 59, allowing the pressure to'build up in the lead 13. As is clearly shown in Fig. 6, the mounting head 18, is provided with two openings to register with the port openings to be used in this style at triple valve, the other openings in the valve being shown in dotted lines and sealed against the face of the mounting head 18 \Vhile I have shownin Figures 3, and 4:, of the drawings, sectional views of a Westinghouse distributing valve of the type No. 6, and a Vestinghouse triple valve of the type K-2, respectively, as mounted on the head of the apparatus for the lapping or grinding operation thereof, yet, I desire it to be understood, that the invention is not limited in its use to such kind of valves, but that it may be employed in connection with any class of valvesthat it may be found applicable.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The herein described apparatus for lapping valves, including a source of air pressure, a storage air reservoir, a lead line to said reservoir from said source of air pressure, a mounting head, a lead line from said reservoir to said mounting head, port openings in said mounting head, a lead line independent of said reservoir to said mounting head, a pressure regulator in said independent lead line, means for mounting an air valve on said mounting head, said port openings communicating with said air-valve, and means co-acting with said air valve to release the pressure at intervals in said'independent lead line.

2. The herein described apparatus for lapping valves, including a source of air pressure, a storage air reservoir, a lead line to said reservoir from said source of air pressure, a mounting head, a lead line from said reservoir to said mounting head, port openings in said mounting head, an independent lead line to said mounting head, a valve for controlling the flow in said independent lead line, means for mounting an air-valve on said mounting head with port openings in said valve communicating with said mounting head for operating'the air valve.

3. The herein described apparatus for lapping valves, of means for variably regulating air under pressure,including a storage air reservoir a source of air pressure, a lead line to said reservoir from said source of air pressure, a mounting head, a lead line from said reservoir to said mounting head, a lead line independent of said reservoir to said mounting head, port openings in said mounting head and means for mounting an air valve mounted on said mounting head, with said port openings communicating with said air valve to operate the same.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a valve, independent sources of air for supplying air under pressureto each side of the valve, and means in each source alternately operable to alternately vary the relative pressures of the air supplied to each side of the valve.

CLARENCE A. DE WITT. 

